3rd POV:
''This is bullshit. We should just tell him,'' Zack complained.
''No!,'' both Aerith and Tifa insisted.
Nox was leaning against the wall, not really wanting to contribute to their argument. The way he saw it, is that head injuries (though could it even be called head injury in Cloud's case?) were tricky. There was no correct solution. What worked for one wouldn't necessarily work for someone else.
Maybe telling Cloud would make it better. Maybe it would make it worse. He didn't know the guy enough to care or get himself involved. But he supposed he could end the 'round' to tell Zack to stop if his way was the wrong one. He would only do it for Aerith and Tifa, since they were close to him.
Zack...
Hmm. He didn't know what to feel in regards to Zack. Aside form the obvious in regards to what his alter ego wants.
Zack scowled and crossed his arms, looking away.
''Look, I understand that you think telling him will make things better. But you heard Shalua. His situation is... delicate. We should first try and see if we can trick him into paying her another visit, now that he is awake and then go from there,'' Aerith reasoned.
''And if he doesn't want to? Should we force him?,'' Nox asked them.
''...I guess we can consult her and then adapt a touch and go approach. Maybe?,'' Aerith answered and looked at Tifa for support, who nodded.
''This is bullshit!,'' Zack repeated with frustration.
Aerith and Tifa gave him a sympathetic look. They were aware that they all wanted the same thing. They were just arguing on how to go about it. Maybe it was unfair to team up against him and insist on this course of action, but still.
''And HOW exactly will you trick Cloud into visiting Shalua? My advice? Tifa said she found him unconscious. Just continue to run with that narrative and continue playing the concerned friend, which you are, to try and get him to visit her. Aka, be honest,'' Nox replied from where he was.
''Yes! You are right. I will go do that right now,'' Tifa eagerly agreed, since she didn't have to lie to Cloud. At least not outright.
Zack threw his hands up in frustration, but in the end finally agreed to try their way first.
---
''No,'' Cloud firmly replied. The moment she mentioned a doctor a sort of terror gripped him. And he didn't want to embarrass himself by showing he had a fear for syringes.
''No? Cloud! You were unconscious when I found you and out for a week. Please? For me? Or else I will continue to worry,'' Tifa pleaded. This is not how she imagined it going down.
''Gimme a break. I've had worse and always healed,'' Cloud huffed and turned away from her.
That was not quite... Well, she supposed he was technically correct, since Zack told them that Hojo experimented on him and he was out and about and walking and talking, even with a memory lapse.
Bust she strangely had the impression that they both understood his statement in different ways.
''That is not reassuring. Even Nox has the good sense to let someone else patch him up or inspect him when he has gotten into a particularly tough fight,'' Tifa replied.
Well, at least she thought so. She did inspect him after he fought that Black Dragon and she could imagine that Aerith and Shalua evaluated him after each time he goes to the sewers to to fight monsters.
''I don't know about Nox, but I'm a SOLDIER First Class. Our Mako enhancements usually takes care of such things,'' Cloud replied considering the argument done.
''Cloud...Are you afraid of needles?,'' Tifa asked carefully.
''How do you think I got my Mako enhancements? I had to undergo a procedure while in SOLDIER and needles were involved,'' Cloud explained.
That ... is not a no.
Tifa released a defeated sigh. She wouldn't be able to force him. She didn't want to force him. In that case they will have to ask Shalua for advice.
---
''Play along,'' Shalua replied.
''What?,'' Aerith asked with disbelief. She and Nox were there in her lab to ask her on behalf of Tifa what they could do for Cloud.
''Look, I don't think you all realize how stupidly lucky Cloud is. Mako poisoning is very deadly for those that are sensitive to it. And even those who aren't suffer some kind of memory lapse from it or get turned into a vegetable. It needs a strong will to resist it, more or less.
I suppose that is because it is said by various sources that Mako is comprised of souls and memories. At least, by the texts left behind by the Ancients. They always claimed so. Shinra, of course, simply claims that it is a source of fuel, like coal or oil, that we can use to light a light bulb. Which I doubt. So one needs a strong will to resist ... their voices or something,'' Shalua stood up and moved to a white board.
She simply looked at it, not offering any insight, but also not hiding what she was working on.
With her sister needing Mako baths, she had to start understanding what it was in order to understand the 'why' her sister needed Mako baths. Mako was not just some simple energy source like coal or oil. There was more to it. But she didn't have the equipment to verify it. Not that Nox didn't get her any additional stuff she asked for that she didn't already have when she entered in his employ. Assuming it wasn't to big for her lab.
She still didn't know what a 'particle accelerator' was. He once joked about him not being able to buy her that since it wouldn't fit in her lab. (Like with 'nukes' and 'nuclear bombs' she made a mental note on that one.)
More like...she needed to make the equipment herself, 'cause it didn't exist.
Of course, it also didn't help that Shinra never strayed from their claim that the Ancients didn't know what they were talking about and misidentified what Mako was. Maybe they knew the truth, maybe they bought into their own narrative, but clearly one party understood Mako at least minimally better. Or will Shinra try claiming next that vegetation and flora and fauna started dying out while the Ancients were still around? No, that was a recent problem that only started appearing since Mako Reactors existed.
There was a reason she was so earnest and focused on the Fusion Reactor. Aside from ensuring her sister was safe. It wasn't just because she owed Nox a debt.
''So that is one issue. The other is that Hojo just stuffed some sort of cells in him, which I don't really know the nature off. They SEEM to be helpful, by repairing any damage done to them, the surrounding cells and the host. But in case it is not obvious, the cells were EXPERIMENTAL. And anything experimental, has an outcome that is not predetermined or guaranteed.
In other words, the fact that he is walking around is nothing but an anomaly. The fact that he is relatively coherent and aware of his surroundings is nothing, but a miracle. We don't know, however, if his condition is stable or not.
Because the final issue is the mind or the brain, if you will. No one understands the brain or the psyche. Yet. After all he went through, the brain might be coping in a way. The body may be fine, but I doubt the cells can help him there in a way.
Suppose that you force him to confront the truth of what happened? He could snap or deteriorate. There are countless examples of people remembering something different then how it happened. The brain is responsible for that in an attempt to protect itself. This may very well not be any different.
In other words, sometimes only time can heal some wounds.
Be there for him. Observe if he seems to remember, but do not press, since he needs to get to the truth himself. Or, if you determine that he ABSOLUTELY needs to be told the truth, then ease him into it as gently as you can possibly do so, but let him be the instigator in any other case.
So, yes, play along and try not to be too confrontational,'' Shalua ended her rather lengthy explanation with a repeat or affirmation of her first answer to them.
''Got it. We will do as you told us,'' Aerith pumped her fist with determinationn.
Shalua sighed and dropped her head.
''Do try to get him to pay me a visit every now and then. Who knows? Maybe he will cave,'' she told them. Both nodded.
''Nox? Do you think...?,'' Aerith asked him.
He raised an eyebrow.
''Well, you know. My secret,'' she gave him a meaningful look.
''What? You think if she understands Mako better she could help Cloud?,'' Nox asked her.
''Yes. And Shelke too. And if not for that, then she could gain some sort of insight to solve that Fusion Reactor problem thingy you told me about,'' she looked at the girl sitting away from them, playing with her ball by throwing it against the wall.
''Hmm. Come to think of it, I'm surprised she didn't reveal that about us to her, like she did our identities,'' Nox wondered.
''Hey. THAT was important. No offense, but I was not about to work with people whose face I didn't know. And I wouldn't permit that for my sister either,'' Shelke huffed and came over to them. She wasn't that far away to not have heard their talks with her sister.
And she already was forced to work for an organisation whose leader's face she didn't know. At that time, at least.
''What is going on? What are you talking about?,'' Shalua asked them.
Aerith and Nox shared another look. Finally he shrugged.
''Hey, it is your secret. Not mine. Do with it what you want,'' Nox told her.
Aerith hummed and looked at Shalua for a while, evaluating her.
She was trustworthy. That she knew. Both her and her sister. And she wasn't opposed to telling them her secret, considering their own circumstances. Shelke already knew and didn't seem to treat her any different, mostly because of her own uniqueness. And Shalua would only care for as long as she could get some answers. She doubted Shalua had any intention to slice up a Cetra like Hojo intended.
Also, maybe it could somehow help someone.
After a while, she made her choice. She could very well end up regretting it, even if there was only a small chance. (She knew Nox would absolutely kill them, if they betrayed them.)
But if there was a chance to help someone, genuinely, then she didn't mind too much.
''I'm a Cetra. Or an Ancient, as most call us ... or me. Considering I'm the last one,'' Aerith revealed.
Shalua released an amused huff, not immediately believing her. But seeing her expression remain unchanged and Nox looking impassively at them, as well as her sister giving her a nod, when she looked at her, she believed her in the end.
Aerith was surprised when Shalua packed her by the shoulders and forced her into her seat. Then she bolted to her desk to grab pen and paper.
''I have a lot of questions about Mako. Will you answer them?,'' Shalua asked outright and impatiently.
''Uhm. Sure, to the best of my ability. Keep in mind that much has been lost and my mother died when I was young, so she couldn't pass on everything to me,'' Aerith replied.
''Have fun,'' Nox waved to them as he walked off.
''First question. The texts left behind by the Ancients say that Mako is comprised of memories and souls. Some people even believe that, but is there any truth to it? Or should I interpret it differently whenever it was said that Ancients could 'commune' with the Planet,'' Shalua asked.
''Oh. No. Mako is made up of souls and memories, but there is more to it. The Lifestream is the 'sea' of souls and memories, but there are voices that are louder. Mostly because they are the gods, thought only M-the Planet talks to me most of the time,'' Aerith replied.
Shalua wrote the answer down and began asking her next question.
...
By the end Aerith was mentally completely exhausted.
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''Cozy place,'' Cloud complimented looking around in her bar.
''Thank you,'' Tifa replied and walked behind the counter.
''So, do you want something?,'' Tifa offered him politely.
''Give me something hard,'' Cloud smoothly demanded and took a seat. SOLDIERs had a somewhat higher metabolism so they didn't get easily drunk.
She nodded and began mixing a drink for him.
''Here,'' Tifa said as she put the drink down in front of him.
''So? What do you think?,'' Tifa asked him and leaned on the counter.
Cloud sipped on the drink and wanted to gag. Too strong. Far too strong.
''You have a gift for bar tending. Did you cultivate that talent long?,'' Cloud asked her and put the drink down trying to keep his eyes from tearing up, due to the bile forming in his esophagus.
Tifa smiled shyly.
''Yes. After Nibelheim... Master Zangan brought me here. I was nurtured back to health and then I finished my training under him. Then he left and well...I got ownership of this bar,'' Tifa replied.
''I'm sensing there is a story there,'' Cloud said.
''Yeah. Maybe I will tell you it... One day,'' Tifa promised him, teasing him a bit at the end.
Cloud hummed.
''I'm glad you are safe. I was wondering were you disappeared to after I killed Sephiroth,'' Cloud revealed, trying to sound casual, not too worried about the fact she disappeared.
''...Sorry. In my defense, I was unconscious, so you'll have to ask Master Zangan why he did what he did,'' Tifa replied.
''Don't be, in that case,'' Cloud told her.
Tifa smiled at him appreciatively.
''So you said you were a merc the past few years?,'' she asked him.
''Yes, been around for a while. Mostly slaying monsters, but if the price is right, then I would be doing other things too,'' Cloud told her confidently.
''Not without a sword, you're not,'' Tifa jokingly teased him.
Cloud widened his eyes a little and made a disgruntled noise. He looked away from her, pretending to be annoyed and leaned his cheek on his fist.
''Sorry. Hey, don't worry. I know some people around here, in Sector 7. We can buy you a sword and then I can introduce you to Wymer. He usually always has some request for people. To slay monsters, I mean,'' Tifa told him trying to encourage him.
''I will pay you back,'' Cloud assured her.
''Tifa! How are you doing, girl?,'' Aerith asked bursting through the doors to the bar.
Nox and Zack following after her.
''Guys! Come sit. Do you want something to drink?,'' Tifa asked them.
''The usual,'' Nox replied and sat near Cloud. Aerith to his right, while Zack took Cloud's other side.
''Just water for me,'' Aerith requested.
''I admit I'm not that familiar with everything on the menu. Give me what you gave Cloud,'' Zack requested.
''Of course. Oh,'' Tifa pretended to remember, before she began to mix drinks,'' That's right. Cloud, you remember Zack? You-''
''Of course I do. We were both deployed at Nibelheim. How have you been since?,'' Cloud offered Zack his hand to shake it.
Zack stared at it briefly, looking pained, but then quickly recovered and shook it.
''Good. But things could always be better I say,'' Zack smiled.
''Heh, I see you're still an optimist,'' Cloud shook his head.
''Yeah, I guess,'' Zack scratched his cheek.
''I'm Aerith. And this is my boyfriend Nox,'' Aerith waved at him and then pointed at herself and Nox. Cloud nodded at her and shook Nox's hands, starting to feel awkward with all their attention on him. It was around this time that Tifa put a glass of water in front of Aerith.
''You a merc too?,'' Cloud asked Nox trying to change the subject.
''I suppose I am. I heard from Zack that you killed Sephiroth. It must have been a fierce battle. Would you mind trading blades with me, so I can see where I stand in terms of power?,'' Nox asked him playfully.
No one really knew HOW Cloud defeated Sephiroth, but judging by the circumstances, it must have been a sneak attack. All here, except Cloud guessed as much. Not that they would think any less of him, if that was the case.
''Do you have a death wish? No one with good sense wants to fight a First Class,'' Cloud asked him.
Tifa put Nox' drink in front of him and he nodded at her.
''Hm? But I'm not a reasonable person. Come, Cloud. Let's set you up and then we can spar. I insist,'' Nox smiled charmingly at him.
Zack shot Aerith a questioning look, who shrugged. Tifa bit her lip, but let things play out between them.
''Well, if you insist,'' Cloud shrugged and took another gulp of his drink. He slammed the drink down after finishing it and stood up.
''After you,'' Cloud gestured to the door.
''Tifa, I will set Cloud up as a merc. Zack come with us,'' Nox instructed and quickly finished his own drink, then leaving without much fanfare.
''Oh man, but I'm thirsty,'' Zack complained and followed after them. Not that thirsty though and maybe he could buy some from a vending machine here. And if not then he would probably store it in his Store Materia from here on out.
''Wait! Here take this bottle of water,'' Tifa quickly offered after ducking under the counter.
''Thanks. I owe you one,'' Zack replied and took it. Then he left. He didn't have money on him, right now. But he had every intention on paying her back later.
...
''What was that about?,'' Tifa asked Aerith feeling a little thrown back by now Nox handled the matter.
''I mean... we know Cloud wasn't a SOLDIER. And he defeated Sephiroth through a sneak attack most likely. I guess he wanted to get it over with to see where Cloud stands in terms of swordsmanship, so that they can both teach him better,'' Aerith reasoned.
''How do you think Cloud will react when his skills don't match up with his memories?,'' Tifa asked her with worry.
''Hey, relax. Nox could have handled it with a little more grace, but he is not gonna push Cloud on the inconsistency. And I'm sure neither will Zack. They will probably insist on 'sparring', aka training after they see his skill. Maybe even hold back a little during this first spar so that the inconsistency doesn't become TOO glaring,'' Aerith reassured Tifa.
''I guess...,'' Tifa commented and looked down.
''You were looking forward to show Cloud around and set him up. No?,'' Aerith guessed.
''...That obvious?,' Tifa ducked her head and blushed a little.
''You can still do that. I don't think Zack and Nox will teach absolutely everything about living in the slums to Cloud. And there is a LOT that someone needs to know if they want to live down here,'' Aerith winked at Tifa playfully making her smile appreciatively and then give her a thankful nod.
''What did Cloud buy anyway?,'' Aerith asked and nodded her head at his drink.
''Whiskey with some lime and a few other juices. Mostly lime,'' Tifa replied.
''Huh,'' Aerith commented. She didn't peg him for someone that enjoyed such type of drinks. Guess she was wrong.
Not really. 'Aerith' wanted to correct her, but kept silent, not wanting to tip her hand about her own world too much.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cloud and Zack scrunched their noses while they walked through the sewers. Not the first place they would have visited, but apparently this was a good place to do some 'private' business. Especially when one went to the deeper levels.
Cloud removed his Iron Blade from his back and inspected it. For some reason he was not all that happy with it. He cast a subtle glance at Zack's Buster Sword and sighed softly.
''So? How do you want to do it?,'' Zack asked Nox, both following after him.
''Hm? I want to spar against Cloud first. Mano a mano,'' Nox shrugged his shoulders,''You can sit on the sidelines and then we can spar against each other.''
''Do we really have to? You're just gonna get hurt,'' Cloud pointed out.
''I wouldn't underestimate him. He slayed a Black Dragon by himself,'' Zack told him.
Cloud widened his eyes a little. Black Dragons were not the most dangerous monsters, but they were VERY up there. Near the top almost.
Nox didn't have the Mako glow in his eyes that SOLDIER's had. So the fact he could do that only meant one thing.
''I traveled a lot. Slayed a lot of monsters,'' Nox explained.
''...,'' Cloud nodded, saying nothing as he was forced to reevaluate his stance on Nox. That is true. Normal people could reach SOLDIER level strength... if they slayed enough monsters. But that could take years.
They stopped after a while ending in a wide circular area. It was an intersection of several connecting passages.
''Well then? Shall we?,'' Nox asked pulling out his sword from the Store Materia. It was not his sword spear, unfortunately, but it was still a good blade he bought while Cloud bought his own Iron Blade.
Nox waited patiently for Cloud to attack. He could have attacked him first, but he wanted to have him lead the spar. So that he could better determine Cloud's swordsmanship as he goes and make adjustments as necessary.
''Guys, try to keep it only to a melee spar. I don't want to have this area destroyed and for people to suffer any sewage blockage,'' Zack shuddered lightly after he called out. He had a somewhat imaginative mind and was horrified at what he imagined.
Cloud bolted going for the 'kill'. He had every intention of stopping the blade right before it could touch skin. Nox blocked the attack and quickly turned it into a parry as he flicked his wrist to redirect Cloud's blade slightly away and then moved forward trying to 'cut' his chest.
Cloud easily jumped back, Nox' attack missing and then Cloud bolted forward again.
Nox moved his sword in the path again, trying to block his blade again and then parry it, before moving it seamlessly into an attack.
But Cloud flicked his wrist angling the attack downwards to Nox chest, forcing him to abandon the parry and just deflect due to how his arm was already positioned in anticipation for his own attack.
Cloud pushed Nox back before trying to deliver an overhead attack. Nox parried it and then was forced to parry the next three attacks as Cloud increased his speed. The fourth attack, they locked blades and Cloud widened his eyes a little as Nox pushed his arms and blade against his chest, forcing him to step back. Nox just pressed forward not allowing him to fully disengage completely.
''You... have a surprising amount of skill when it comes to swordsmanship,'' Nox commented, forcing Zack to nod from the sidelines. What he has seen from Cloud so far wasn't particularly awe inspiring. In fact it was just the basics so far. Only... they were done almost too fluidly with a touch of familiarity to them.
He couldn't quite say yet, why Cloud's sword style felt familiar.
As for the 'almost fluidly'? Zack couldn't really tell what it was yet, that stood out for him in regards to how Cloud fought.
None of this made sense, of course. Cloud was not meant to have this level of skill.
''All SOLDIERS receive training in Materia usage and blade. First Class SOLDIER's are the best of the best,'' Cloud explained shortly. He grunted as his arms ached when Nox pressed even more against his blade in response.
Nox hummed to what Cloud said. 'But you aren't a SOLDIER and never were. The mystery just keeps deepening,' Nox thought to himself.
''I must apologize. I never fought a SOLDIER, so I wasn't familiar with your game,'' Nox dipped his head after they disengaged Cloud stumbling just a little forward before he assumed his stance again.
This time instead of holding his massive sword with both hands in front of him, he instead raised it by his side, blade tip pointing forward.
Zack widened his eyes.
Sephiroth?
''I was doing you a disservice. Allow me to rectify that,'' Nox added assuming his own stance, blade held with both hands around his wrist with the blade point pointing to his side.
''Guys, remember what I said!,'' Zack called out.
Nox and Cloud bolted towards each other.
Nox sidestepped Cloud's attempt to slash him with a downwards slash. He attempted to use that opportunity to slash at Cloud while passing him by with his dodge, but Cloud just kept his attack going. Wrist rolling, blade moving in a moon arc and ending up by his side ready to block Nox' attack.
The two passed each other by, ending up where their opponent was previously.
They wasted no time and engaged again immediately.
Zack watched them with worry as the spar grew in intensity. Blades dancing in a flurry and making the wind around them sing as sparks flew in the air around them.
Nox spun around, blade going in a 360 forcing Cloud to keep his distance, instead of using the advantage of his blade being longer to deliver an attack. He could have done so anyway, but he would have definitely suffered an injury. He did use Nox' downtime after ending his attack to try and deliver an upwards slash and then afterwards a downward slash, all that before Nox corrected his stance after his spun attack.
Nox was quicker and sidestepped it, Iron Blade grazing his clothes as he then forced Cloud to block his attack. He stepped back and tried deliver a side slash. But Cloud widened his eyes as Nox caught the flat of his blade between his elbow and knee.
Cloud swung Nox into the air when he tried to attack Cloud during this opening. Instead of giving him time to land and recover Cloud engaged him trying to use this opening to end the spar.
Nox parried both of his attacks and the third he flicked his blade so hard that Cloud's own blade was pushed into a weird angle. Before he landed he delivered a kick to Cloud's face.
He jumped away with a scowl and then assumed his stance again. Cheek already reddening.
''Guys?,'' Zack called out and stepped forward.
Nox and Cloud ignored him, the spar picking up in heat.
Or...was this even a spar anymore. Then again, they both seemed to enjoy themselves, so they probably still remembered that this was still supposed to be a spar.
''Guys!?,'' Zack tried again, hand moving to his sword, ready to intervene if necessary.
Cloud delivered a Braver Slash ending his jump into the air by fluidly combining it into a Triple Slash. These attacks were much stronger, albeit a bit slower. In a real battle, against Nox at least, it would have cost Cloud. But this was just a spar. Such attacks should really be used against mindless beasts or lesser skilled opponents.
Just when Nox had enough and wanted to step forward Cloud and Nox exchanged one last trade passing by each other.
Cloud sighed and then turned around, 'sheathing' his Iron Blade on his back.
''You fight well. Who was your teacher?,'' Cloud asked him.
Nox touched his cheek, there was blood on his fingertip.
''So-mebody. He never bothered to give me his name. And your teacher?,'' Nox asked turning around. He doesn't want to remember that Wutaiian man.
''Standard SOLDIER training. But mostly self taught,'' Cloud replied.
Nox hummed.
Whatever Hojo did to him gave him sword skills. For some reason.
Or was it because of the cells? For that matter (and Shalua was right to be curious) what DID the cells do? Clearly they made hims stronger and faster, but how did they give him those skills while he was unconscious. Or did Hojo use some sort of helmet to transfer information. Not that far fetched considering Shelke's own circumstances. Maybe that was the case and Zack just never caught it. He himself was out of it, even if less so then Cloud.
Hm. What were Jenova's powers aside from giving people a stronger body? Illusions? Nox did remember reading in the Temple of Ancients that she pretended to be who she was not and wore their brother and sisters faces.
In any case, they clearly didn't need to worry about Cloud too much.
''Catch,'' Nox threw a Materia towards Cloud. A Heal Materia.
Cloud inspected it and raised his eyebrow.
''A welcoming gift. To the Slums and the merc life. Try not to advertise who you are to the world too much and this is Shinra's turf. You did slay Shinra's golden dog after all . I can certainly believe that now... You also need it to heal your own cut,'' Nox cheekily told him and pointed at his cheek. The last sentence was certainly untrue, but they had to keep the lie going. Especially now that Cloud seemingly had amazing sword skills out of nowhere.
Still, he wasn't blind. Cloud moved like he knew what he was doing. But muscle memory was a thing. And clearly his body didn't ... it lagged behind to what his sword skill suggested, at which speeds his body should actually be moving. Which meant he needed experience, so Zack should accompany him anyway, even if he would be fine against most things by himself. At least until that issue of his was fixed.
(A conclusion that Zack also arrived to by now.)
Cloud hastily wiped his cheek and saw blood on his finger tips. He starred with disbelief that a non-SOLDIER person could even scratch him. Still, far from wanting to appear ungrateful, he nodded appreciatively at Nox and used the Materia on himself.
''Wanna see me and Zack spar?,'' Nox asked him and nodded his head to the sidelines.
''...Sure. Why not,'' Cloud made his way over to the sidelines and crossed his arms.
Zack kept his thoughts from his face and stepped in the middle facing Nox and pulled his Buster Sword out.
...
Unlike with Cloud, who Nox didn't want to ACTUALLY spar against, instead only wanting to evaluate, he did spar against Zack seriously.
He did take Cloud more seriously in the end, which made the fact that he drew blood anyway all the more impressive. Of course, if this were a real fight Nox knew it would have ended VERY differently and more one sided. But alas, the spar was only meant to evaluate him and so they kept it to just blades.
Zack on the other hand he took more seriously since he was ACTUALLY experienced.
...It also didn't help that there was a voice in his head actively vying for him to murder Zack.
The voice was slowly getting on Nox' nerves, but he ignored it. It was right that he wouldn't get rid of it so easily.
It went without saying that he beat Zack up.
Zack held his sides as Nox ended the spar with a kick. He blinked before forcing himself to relax and leaned forward to offer him a hand.
Zack starred at it for a bit, before taking it. He grunted when Nox lifted him up and gave him an appreciative smile when Nox cast Heal on him.
''Guess that is why I was the one who beat Sehpiroth and not you,'' Cloud joked and came over.
''Hey! I did weaken him a bit for you. You have to give me that much. It was a team effort,'' Zack wailed his arms around in frustration.
Cloud raised an eyebrow arrogantly. But in the end it turned out he was just pretending.
''That is true, I was just messing with you,'' Cloud told him.
''Hey, remember when I suggested we team up for something. I was talking mostly about a deliver company. But would you mind us teaming up as a sort of merc duo?,'' Zack asked him eagerly.
Cloud gripped his head feeling a small headache. He shook his head. That did not escape Nox and Zack.
''Yeah. You talked about it and I didn't take you up on it, because I said I prefer working alone. That hasn't changed since then, so I have to pass,'' Cloud replied.
(So much for that plan, for one of them to accompany him and keep an eye on him, just in case.)
He turned his head feeling like he kicked a puppy with how dejected Zack looked. Dare he say it, downright devastated.
''Oh. That... is fair,'' Zack told him.
The three of them stood awkwardly around.
''Well, you know the way out from here. And you know who to talk to in case you want a job. You also know where Tifa's bar and her home is. Sooo, see you around. But I have stuff to do,'' Nox told them and then left.
''Right. And I need to make money to buy my own place and pay off some debts. But it was good catching up a little Zack. See you around,'' Cloud said and left as well.
Zack stared after the two of them. After a while he sighed and trailed after them. Or at least after their path, since he no longer saw them.
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''Booh!,'' Nox was waiting on the bench in the church of Sector 5, trying to analyze what he saw in the sewers, when he felt someone put a cold can against his cheek.
''Aerith,'' he greeted and leaned his head back to stare at her.
She stepped around him to sit by his side and held one of the two cans of soda towards him as an offer. He took it and opened it.
''Why were you here all alone? The flowers could feel you oozing with brooding energy,'' Aerith teased him and opened her own can.
''I wasn't brooding,'' Nox scoffed with disbelief,'' I was thinking.''
He began sharing his discoveries about Cloud with Aerith.
''That complicates things. No?,'' she guessed.
''Yeah. Unless the Planet has revealed more about Jenova?,'' Nox asked her.
She shook her head.
''No. Not what we don't already know, at least. Keep in mind that Jenova isn't part of the Planet. Technically. So she isn't aware about how EXACTLY Jenova's powers work and can only make conclusions by what the Planet observed from her. Unless...,'' Aerith trailed off and put her hands together in a prayer after she set her soda by her side.
'Other me?,' Aerith asked in her mind.
'I can't offer anything more. And you shouldn't reveal more to him until the time is right. Still I have to give him credit. He is dancing dangerously close to the truth,' 'Aerith' told her. The answer WAS memory transference, just not with a helmet as he guessed. Instead it was more of a Hive mind of cells. Of course that part of Jenova is severely diminished thanks to her having been so heavily damaged by the Cetra's in the past. Of course, she was regaining her strength now that Sephiroth was helping her.
'Aerith' shuddered not wanting to imagine how powerful Jenova ever was. Then again the damage their race suffered was telling enough to her power and what it cost to defeat her. Thankfully, she was never fated to regain her full power again ever, because she overplayed her hand with Sephiroth.
And she was forced to overplay her hand since it was a one in a million opportunity for her to have an agent that does her will, willingly at that, allowing her to heal in the mean time. Of course at that point to many entities want her dead.
(Ironically, while the seal was weakening her, very slowly, but surely, it was also what was protecting her.)
No, the true threat is Sephiroth. While Hojo did use Jenova cells to inject them into Sephiroth while he was a fetus, they did become HIS cells and her power and abilities, up to a certain extent, became HIS power and abilities. It was HIM that was messing with the worlds and transferring memories, never Jenova.
Honestly at this point 'Aerith' even doubted that Jenova even had any influence on him anyway and it was probably more the case that he was using her while letting her think that she was in control. She did make monsters with her cells in a way that Sephiroth couldn't with his knockoff copied powers.
That was what S Positive Cells were. For her it was no surprise that Cloud did good even if he had a lack of experience and muscle memory as Nox said. She wasn't a sword fighter to tell so she was willing to defer to his judgement here.
Cloud and Sephiroth were linked because of that, but there was another reason why Cloud was important. And it didn't immediately have to do with their connection.
No, it had to do with what happened 5 years ago.
Aerith hummed displeased at 'Aerith's' answer.
''No. Nothing,'' she told him.
Nox nodded.
''I never told you what happened when I rescued Zack. Did I?,'' Nox asked her suddenly.
''No,'' Aerith shook her head and picked her soda can again.
''I had to fight... dark shadowy ghosts. The first time I ever encountered them was when I traveled through Nibelheim and was snooping around. At that time I wasn't as strong and they tried to drag me to her, but I managed to escape. When I rescued Zack they tried to interfere, but this time I killed them.
I suspect that, even in her weakened state, she can control those entities,'' Nox continued.
''Arbiters of Fate. Yes. Only the one you encountered were corrupted,'' Aerith explained to him and interrupted him briefly. Surely telling him that was fine since he encountered them, but she didn't correct him on his assumption that it was Jenova who controlled the corrupted versions instead of Sephiroth.
''Well, even better then. We know she can control them, so she probably uses them as agents to do her will. And Shinra moved her from Nibelheim to Midgar some months ago. We should ... take care of her, if you know what I mean,'' Nox suggested and took a sip from his soda.
Even if Jenova wasn't the Big Bad and Nox was pretty sure she was, then it was still a good idea to take care of her. He had no interest in watching his problems pile up and accumulate while he was facing the true Big Bad. It was easier to fight one enemy then two, after all.
And only idiots fight a war on two fronts, regardless of how much power they have. It was a matter of principle.
''Agreed. I can ask the planet how to kill her, so that we can prepare a better plan. It would most likely mean storming Shinra's labs. Unless we can somehow devise a plan to sneak in and out with her. Assuming she doesn't fit into Store Materia, since she is organic tissue,'' Aerith added. Living organic tissue. Food and drinks were fine for a few days.
''Sounds good. Give me the word when you are done,'' Nox nodded.
''In the meantime you should go and visit Zack to talk to him,'' Aerith told him.
''What? Why?,'' Nox asked her confused.
''Well, I feel sad for him. After all he went through, he still suffers by losing his best friend and then me. The world moved on without him and assumes he is dead, bar a few who want to use him for malicious purposes or kill him. Most people would snap from all that. I would offer him some kind words myself, but he has been kind of avoiding me ever since we last talked,'' Aerith explained herself.
Of course he did, he was trying to move on and it wasn't easy with the object of his affection right next to him. He also probably wouldn't appreciate her of all people talking to him about this subject.
''We may have been friends once. ONCE. But many years have passed since then,'' Nox told her. And his departure was abrupt. Zack hasn't said anything, but he was probably hurt in some way and bitter over it. Or he assumed him dead and now didn't know how to feel about him. Could be both, even.
''Nox. Please do it for me? He has no one else,'' Aerith asked him.
Nox closed his eyes and then sighed after a while.
''Fine,'' Nox acquiesced.
Aerith clapped her hands and gave him a kiss to express her gratitude.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
''Zack, we can't go to Tifa's bar today. Cloud has already been informed, but both of you should keep your head down today and maybe the next few days as well,'' Nox told him after being let in by Zack in his current abode.
''What? Why?,'' Zack asked confused.
''The Turks are watching Aerith today and she usually hangs out with Tifa today. Come, you wanna visit Stella?,'' Nox offered him. Since he visited Stella on Saturdays, Aerith adopted her ow ritual. Which was hanging out with Tifa. Or sell flowers, but more and more it was hanging out with Tifa.
''What? Do you have a spy agency or something?,'' Zack joked.
''Or something. Folks down here are wary of outsiders or more accurately, those who look like top siders. And the Turks do stand out, whenever they don't bother to disguise themselves, with their suits,'' Nox shrugged.
''Who is Stella?,'' Zack asked next after he nodded.
''Come and see,'' Nox invited him.
Zack thought over the matter a bit and then nodded.
---
''You know, I never asked, but what happened outside of Midgar? Why is there a massive crater in the middle of the desert?,'' Zack asked. He was wearing a cap to hide his features a bit. Personally Nox was wondering what good that would bring since he didn't wear that disguise while going around doing mercenary work, but to each their own.
''That depends? Do you want the official version? It was a sinkhole. The unofficial? Some sort of fighting took place, probably between Shinra and some other group in a secret facility and things got ...dicey,'' Nox shrugged.
He was diving the motorcycle while Zack was hanging on to him.
''A sinkhole? No one is going to believe that. There is smoke coming out of that crater!,'' Zack pointed out.
''You should have seen it a few weeks ago. Much more smoke and dark too. It was a sinkhole that damaged some infrastructure. Of course, our wonderbred overlords promised to repair everything to our earliest convenience,'' Zack mockingly parroted.
''Still... People actually buy this shit?,'' Zack asked him with disbelief. He knows firsthand how strong the propaganda machine of Shinra's is, but come on!
''People are dumb. And if they are not dumb, they are complacent. And if they are not complacent they are fearful and want someone who tells them everything will be alright and sells them easy solutions. And if they are none of these things, then they have an interest in pushing forward and playing along with that narrative.
There are thousands of reasons why some one would buy their lie. Even one is enough for most,'' Nox told him with a shrug.
Zack frowned and turned to look back at the departing Midgar.
''You make it sound like there are no good people left in the world,'' Zack complained.
''There are good people in the world. You, Cloud, Shalua, Tifa, Aerith, Barret who you haven't met yet and all the others. Good souls in a wrong world. If you want to make the world a better place, you all will be fighting an uphill battle.
There is a saying. All it takes for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing.
Yes. It will be an uphill battle, but it is a good battle. A battle worth fighting for,'' Nox shot back. Now, that they street no longer curved here and there he could drive faster.
''And you? Are you also fighting that battle?,'' Zack asked him.
''I'm not a good soul, Zack,'' Nox shot back.
''No way! Aerith wouldn't have fallen in love with you otherwise,'' Zack dismissed his claim, the words tasting like ash in his mouth.
Nox nodded for the sake of nodding.
Aerith... was gentle. But she wasn't an angel either. She could be pretty vicious if she wanted, but ... Zack was right. He couldn't see her inflicting harm on others herself. She understood that some people needed to go and she did say she wanted to kill Hojo for revenge, but if she remained true to her words remained to be seen.
''I guess you're right,'' Nox yelled back,''I'm fighting that battle too.''
Zack stared at him for a while and said nothing else.
---
''So? Who is Stella?,'' Zack asked him after stepping down from the motorcycle.
''Stella is...,'' Nox grunted and was slammed into the ground as a blue feathered chocobo run into him. He was pressed in between her and the ground, almost as if she was trying to nest him or refuse to let him go.
Zack swore he could see her shoot a dirty look at the motorcycle. Like it offended her or something.
''Zack, Stella. Stella, Zack,'' Nox introduced them, his voice muffled by her chest.
He tried patting her a few times, to get her off and when she didn't comply he picked her up and stood up with her in his arms.
Zack nodded to an elderly man when he came over to them.
''Nox. Ah, I see you brought yet another person with you to visit her. Will Aerith come visit us again?,'' Choco Bill asked him.
''One day,'' Nox set Stella down,'' Zack, Choco Bill. Choco Bill, Zack. How is Choco Billy doing?''
''Good, good. Soon enough I can hand the farm over to him,'' Billy chuckled.
''I doubt he is looking forward to that day,'' Nox guessed.
''Ah, you know. None of us are getting younger. We all must die some day, so best prepare the next generation to be able to tackle life without us around,'' Billy chuckled, but there was a brief look of sadness in his eyes.
''Anyway, will you want to rent a Chocobo for your friend her to race around and stuff?,'' Billy asked him.
''Sure. Oh! Here, for Stella's upkeep,'' Nox pulled out a bag of Gil which Billy took.
''If I knew you weren't more stubborn then I, I would not take that money. She is pretty self-sufficient, jumping over the fence and grazing on the field around. I had to learn her patterns and let her out since she was teaching the others how to jump and emboldening them. Not that they ran away, mind you, but still,'' Billy commented and pocketed the money.
Nox raised an eyebrow.
''But...I did tell you to let her out since she is self-sufficient and can feed herself as well as having the desire to stretch her legs,'' Nox frowned and had to raise his arm as Stella snuck her head under his arm to hug him.
''You did? Oh, then I must have forgotten. Well, I'll keep that in mind from now on. Come, come. Let us find your friend a chocobo,'' Choco Billy waved them after him while he began making his way back to the farm.
Zack and Nox shared a look of understanding, but then walked after him.
---
''A beer?,'' Nox offered to Zack while the two were sitting on a hill, overlooking the farm.
''Huh? Oh, thanks,'' Zack took it and quickly opened it. He held his bottle out towards Nox and the two clinked their bottles.
''How are you holding up, Zack?,'' Nox asked him directly.
''Huh? What brought that on?,'' Zack asked him curiously, playing dumb.
Nox cast him a brief side eye, before looking forward again and taking a sip from his beer. Stella snuck her head under his arm again and rested her head on his lap. Nox put his bottle in the other hand and began gently stroking her feathers with his other.
''You don't care, Nox. Aerith put you up to this,'' Zack scoffed, now a little hostile. He assumed as much.
''That's right. But if I didn't care at all, I wouldn't be here. Now would I?,'' Nox pointed out.
''My best friend left home and I thought him dead. Then I had to grieve him only to find out years later he abandoned us all for some reason. I lost my mentor. My friends turned into murdering idiots. My other best friend now no longer remembers me, because his head is fucked and apparently Hojo did more then just inject him with Jenova cells, or else he wouldn't have these skills. And of course we were tortured and lost five years of our lives.
And finally Aerith moved on from me, which means I fumbled the greatest win in the world. So how the hell do you think I feel?,'' Zack unloaded on him.
''Let it all out,'' Nox encouraged him.
''Fuck. You,'' Zack balled one of his hand in a fist and nearly destroyed the bottle in his other hand. He took a deep breath and calmed himself in time and finished that off by taking another sip from his beer to try and calm himself down further.
''I didn't mean that in a condescending manner. I could say something to offer you comfort, but the truth is that they will be all empty words. None of them will be solutions anyway. But sometimes ... it does one good to scream at the world. It is strangely liberating,'' Nox explained himself.
Zack's shoulders dropped and he felt guilty and terrible for lashing out at him. He dragged his hand down his face.
''You're right. Sorry... Did you,'' Zack swallowed,''Did you ever do that? Scream at the world, I mean.''
''Yeah,'' Nox nodded his head and took a sip of his beer. He remembered the moment he stumbled upon his mother, his first mother, after she hang herself. And how he burned the house down feeling betrayed by her action.
There was no advantage in burning the house down. It was just his 'scream', his moment of lashing out.
Still made him feel hella good though.
''Is that why you left Gongaga?,'' Zack asked him,''Because of the whispers? About the insinuation that your mother cheated on your fahter?''
''No. I left because of a matter unrelated to that... They were good people,'' Nox took another sip,''They just had the bad luck of being cursed with a bad son.''
''You don't want to ask how they are doing?,'' Zack asked him with a frown. He disagreed with him being a bad son. Maybe there was some sort of miscommunication or something.
''The last time you probably saw them was at least five years ago. Maybe more. Much must have changed since then. I doubt you could answer that question for me, even if I wanted to know,'' Nox told him.
Zack pursed his lips, displeased.
''No, actually. While I was fleeing and dragging Cloud around we briefly stopped at Gongaga. To restock, but I also used that opportunity to watch my parents from afar. I saw yours too. All that was a few months ago, but suit yourself,'' Zack sighed.
Nox nodded in appreciation. He didn't want to make it more difficult for himself.
''We were talking about you,'' Nox reminded him.
''Yeah,'' Zack nodded after a while and took a sip.
''But there is not much else to say. I guess... I will just do what I have always done. Try to make the best of it and try to improve things were I can. You were right, it did good to unload on you. Cleared my mind a bit.
Cloud may not remember me, but there is not reason to act like his current state will always remain like that.
And there is plenty of other fish in the sea, as they say,'' Zack tried to look on the bright side. Though he doubted he will ever 'catch' someone like Aerith again.
Nox hummed and nodded. Zack leaned on his back, while Nox continued to stoke Stella's feathers.
''Hey, Nox? Treat her right, you hear me?,'' Zack ordered him.
''Trust me, she will make herself known, if that isn't the case,'' Nox replied.
''Yeah,'' Zack agreed. She changed, but even then she had a will to her. If that made sense, it made in his head at least.
Some time passed.
''Are we still friends?,'' Zack asked him, trying to hide his emotions in his voice, but it betrayed his vulnerability.
A beat passed between them. Nox wanted to disagree out of principle and the fact that a part of him wanted him dead. That same part also fear mongered him that Zack will abandon him or betray him in some sorts.
But then he remembered the time when they were younger. Another part of him him missed that time, in a way.
And if he did betray him then he could always treat him like that Wutaiian man that taught him the sword.
Yes.
He supposed it was true. He could no longer hide it from himself.
He grew as a person.
Maybe a little. Just a little.
But he was willing to at least give people chance, instead of outright dismissing them or making the choice in their stead.
After all, Zack had no immediate use for him. And maybe not even in the future. Yet he still went out of his way to provide him a home/ hiding place and watched out for him, so that the Turks wouldn't find him.
Not at all like Shalua or Shelke.
Then again the two were growing on him as well.
''Do you want us to be?,'' Nox asked him.
After some time Zack replied.
''Yeah.''
''Then there is your answer.''
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Tifa, Aerith, Nox, Zack and Cloud were in Tifa's bar, when the doors burst open.
''Uncle Nox!,'' Marlene cried out. Barret let her down and she ran towards Nox. He picked her up and sat her on his forearm after throwing her up in the air and making her giggle.
Zack and Cloud raised an eyebrow at the sight, but kept to themselves. In their little corner, where they were talking about business beforehand.
''And Aunt Aerith,'' Marlene waved at her. She smiled and waved back.
''Marlene, do you want some juice? How was kindergarten today?,'' TIfa offered and then asked, leaning over the counter.
Barret made his way over to the counter as well, taking a seat near Nox. Meanwhile Biggs, Wedge and Jessie followed one after the other through the door. Though they sat at a table while observing them and saying their own greetings.
''I learned lots. We learned how to draw yellow flowers today,'' Marlened enthusiastically babbled.
''Were they by any chance Marigolds?,'' Aerith asked her kindly, wanting to engage in the subject.
Marlene locked embarrassed and shook her head, not liking to disappoint Aunty Aerith.
''Hey, Aerith, don't take it the wrong way, but I don't think she cares about flowers as much as she cares about the dragon Grigori,'' Biggs joked from their table.
''Yeah, only one of you is the cool one to her,'' Wedge added and suppressed a chuckle.
Aeith huffed indignant, while Nox closed his eyes at their teasing.
''That's right. You haven't told me that story in a while. I want to know how it ends,'' Marlene whined.
She turned a little to tell Tifa she wanted orange juice and in doing so she saw Zack and Cloud.
Strangers.
She quickly hid herself behind Nox, or at least tried to make herself small when she failed to do so sufficiently enough.
Barret turned ready to see what made his daughter fearful and saw two strangers. He doubted Tifa didn't know about them.
He nodded at Biggs and Wedge.
''Hey, Marlene! What do you say to going down to the basement and playing a little. Does apple juice sound good to you? Wedge can bring it down to you after Tifa prepares it for you,'' Biggs stood up and walked over to her.
''Orange juice,'' she corrected in a small voice. Tifa heard her anyway.
''One glass of Orange juice coming right up. You go down there and have some fun, while the adults take care of boring adult business,'' Tifa told her as Nox handed Marlene off to Biggs.
The atmosphere tensed as they all waited for Biggs and Marlene to take down the secret entrance to their AVALANCHE basement. Mostly because Barret made a scary face. In Nox' opinion it was off set by the fact that the two were SOLDIER and that Barret handed over some money for Tifa to pay for the orange juice.
Still, when a man with a gun for an arm looks angrily at one, most people tend to tense despite circumstances.
Jessie followed after them, needing to make some adjustments to her bombs anyway. More like prepare the ingredients and have everything ready to make them as well as double check the procedures. She wasn't about to make an ACTUAL bomb with a child two meters away from her. Once she left she would make them, which usually was always pretty soon after they entered the bar. She should be done long before Tifa opened her bar.
''Now correct me if I'm wrong, but I spy with my little eyes two strangers that frightened my daughter. Care to introduce yourself,'' Barret directly asked them.
''First Class Ex-SOLDIER, Cloud. I'm a merc now,'' Cloud introduced himself and crossed his arms.
''Same. Only my name is Zack, not Cloud,'' Zack gave him a thumbs up.
Barret blinked, stupefied for a moment. Then he bolted to his legs and pointed his gun arm at them, ready to shoot them. Tifa jumped over the counter and even Nox and Aerith held him back, while Cloud and Zack brought out their swords, ready to defend themselves.
''Let me go. Have you all lost your mind? This is Shinra over there. They are the enemy!,'' Barret growled at them.
''Ex-SOLDIER. Meaning we no longer work for Shinra now. We are mercs,'' Cloud repeated bluntly.
''Oh, yeah? And what do you do SOLDIER boy?,'' Barret challenged before Tifa could say something. She closed her mouth shut.
''For the right price? Anything,'' Cloud sheathed his sword on his back and then crossed him.
''And you can fight?,'' Barret asked them receiving two nods.
''I don't like where this is going,'' Tifa let go and whispered to Aerith. Should she interfere or let the men sort things out by themselves?
''First Class. Remember?,'' Cloud reminded him, slowly starting to reach his patience with a potential client. Then he remembered Tifa's suggestions and swallowed his irritation.
That is right. He couldn't lose a potential client. That would be like losing money.
''Tifa, you trust them? You know them?,'' Barret asked her.
''Well....yes,'' Tifa began.
There was more she wanted to say, but her answer was enough for Barret.
''Well, here is what I have to say. We are AVALANCHE-,'' Barret began pointing a thumb at himself.
Nox blinked incredulously several times with disbelief.
Yeah, this all here is not gonna last long. Is it?
''-and you can consider your payment being the planets survival. In a few days we plan on blowing Reactor 1 to show Shinra-''
Sure. Just write your intentions on a bill board. Why don't you?
Nox buried his face in his hands and dragged them down.
''-where it's at. That they can't keep sucking out the life blood of the planet as they please. So what do you say? Are you with me?,'' Barret finished his grand declaration with a fist pump.
''I'm doing it for 3000 Gil,'' Cloud offered him, moving past his non-sense speech.
Nox raised an eyebrow. They were talking about giving Shinra a giant middle finger to the face. Granted that was just an insult and an inconvenience to them, them bombing a reactor, but they would still be made examples off. All that for 3000 Gil? Cloud was selling himself short.
''Urgh,'' Barret was thrown off his game, not expecting that answer.
''I...I don't know if I can take this job. I agree with what you try to do, but...I don't like bombing stuff and involving innocents,'' Zack scratched his head.
Also unlike Cloud he was much more known by Shinra, since he was an actual First Class. Actually, it was a bad idea for Cloud to go there as well, but he didn't know how he could explain it to him. Everything he told them, indicated that he believed they left SOLDIER and thus Shinra peacefully.
''3000!? Don't you care about the planet at all?,'' Barret asked him furiously with disbelief. 3000 was too much. He might possibly need to dip into Marlenes funds for her tuition.
He cast a desperate look at Nox. He just crossed his arms and shook his head. Not his style. Not anymore.
Barret looked at Tifa. Who avoided his eyes feeling ashamed and frustrated to leave Barret hanging.
Barret briefly looked at Aerith who hastily shook her head.
Barret let his shoulder drop, trying to think things trough.
They received some intel recently. The kind that they were able to prove was reliable. They couldn't miss this window of opportunity. Maybe they could do this alone. They were ready for it, in fact. But now? That the opportunity prevented itself, Barret had to admit that he wanted that assurance of someone strong fighting alongside with them.
At least the first time around.
Ugh, he could always work some jobs to gather the money for his payment or replenish Marlene's funds for her tuition.
''Fine. 3000 thousand. And you better make every Gil worth the investment. You got that merc?,'' Barret snapped.
''Don't worry. I never failed an assignment,'' Cloud assured him.
Barret just grunted and made his way downwards to the secret entrance.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Nox rubbed his face.
This all could only end in disaster.
He hummed.
Then again. He needed to hit Shinra anyway to kill Jenova. Depending on how things play out, they may be forced to leave Midgar. He genuinely doubted it, but still.
Maybe he could play this in some way to his benefit?
It had the potential to play out in several different ways, if he was smart.
He set his checkpoint, updating it.
Then he pulled out his PHS and called Shelke.
''You want me to run interference?,'' she got straight to the point.
''No. Well... at least not too much. Just blur any mention of Sector 7 or any other incriminating evidence. After all, Shinra can't know someone like you exists out there,'' Nox instructed.
That scientist, what's-his-face, only ever documented his attempts. He never found out if he succeeded with Shelke. In both cased it was a moot point since Deepground was now a pile of ash. It would take years for Shinra to uncover what they lost and what happened and Nox had no intention of letting them exist this long.
Shalua was only getting closer to a solution. And with his powers, he could just say what worked and didn't and 'skip' the trial and error process.
All that assuming the Big Bad was Jenova and things would go smoothyl afterward.
''Their faces too?,'' Shelke asked him.
''No,'' Nox replied. That would be too on the nose. And honestly, if they were smart and used masks that shouldn't be an issue for them anyway.
He doubted they were dumb enough not to do that.
They were adults, he wasn't about to hold their hands for everything and they could get that idea themselves.
''Is this some sort of 3D chess, trying to force them to join the Black Knights?,'' Shelke asked him.
''No. This is me trying out a few things,' Nox replied knowing damn sure that would confuse her.
That was fine.
She wouldn't remember anyways.
(A.N.: 10811 words. Hope you enjoyed reading it. Cheers and stay safe out there.)